A TEENAGER who fell about 20metres off a cliff near Anna Bay is lucky to be alive.

Emergency services were called to Pacific Street, Fishermans Bay, about 2pm on Wednesday.

The youth, a 17-year-old male, is thought to have been walking along the cliff face with a group of mates when the rocks crumbled beneath him.

He tumbled and landed in a rock pool only metres from the ocean.

Police, Rural Fire Brigade and NSW Ambulance services attended the scene. The teenager’s precarious position required a rescue operation from the sky with the Hunter Westpac rescue helicopter also called to attend.

They managed to stabilise him and winch him to safety about 3.45pm before taking him to John Hunter Hospital.

A Westpac spokesman said the boy was in a stable condition with chest and back injuries.

‘‘He was very lucky not to sustain greater injuries given the height of the fall,’’ he said. ‘‘It was fortunate he tumbled down instead of falling the whole way.’’

Sam Bestmann, of Fishermans Bay, didn’t see the incident but said many people often explored around the cliff area.

‘‘I don’t know what these boys were doing but a lot of people go there to jump off the rocks into the water,’’ he said.